You Might Not See This In Your Local Paper

US air strike ‘kills Al-Qaeda leader in Somalia’
by Mustafa Haji Abdinur

MOGADISHU (AFP) - The United States carried out an air strike in Somalia on Thursday which killed at least 10 people, including Al-Qaeda’s military leader in the war-torn country, Ethiopian officials and rebels said. The militant leader was named as Moalim Aden Hashi Ayro who trained with Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and had been linked to the deaths of foreign aid workers in Somalia. He had been a target of a US air strike in 2007…

The Ethiopian government, a key US ally in Africa and the main supporter of Somalia’s embattled government, said the United States staged the raid on a house in Dhusamareb, in the Galgudud region of central Somalia.

“This attack was purely performed by the Americans,” Ethiopia’s Information Minister Berhane Hailu told AFP in Addis Ababa. “It will further weaken the cells of Al-Qaeda in Somalia. It has some value for peace and stability in Somalia.”

A war plane dropped three large bombs on the house at about 2:00 am (2300 GMT Wednesday), according to resident Jamal Mohamoud.

“We are still digging debris at the house that was totally demolished. We have so far recovered 10 bodies, including that of Ayro. Three people who were injured have been taken to hospital,” Abshir Moalim Ali, an elder in Dhusamareb told AFP.

Ayro was military leader of Shabab, a group on the US government’s terrorist list.

Via Sweetness and Light

The Clintons and Obamas Agree on One Thing: Free The Terrorists!

Hillary Clinton has benefited greatly from the revelations about Barack Obama's close ties with extremists on the left. William Ayres is a teacher at the University of Illinois, whose specialty is to persuade teachers-to-be that social justice should be at the forefront of their curriculums when they go out into the world and teach our children. Ayres distinguished himself in the sixties by bombing police stations and the Pentagon as a member of the Weather Underground, and his close ties to Obama are now being documented by enterprising bloggers and journalists.

Guess what? Hillary's husband in his final days as President pardoned one of the most notorious members of the Weather Underground, Susan Rosenberg. In her book about the Clintons' Final Days in the White House, Barbara Olson wrote

Susan Rosenberg was a member of the Weather Underground, one of the most violent of the left-wing militias that disrupted the nation from the 1960s through the 1980s. The Weather Underground was part of an interlocking directorate that included the May 19th Communist Organization (May 19 is the birthday of both Ho Chi Minh and Malcolm X), the Black Liberation Army, the Red Guerrilla Resistance, and others, together known as “The Family.”

Rosenberg was born on Manhattan’s upper west side. Emanuel Rosenberg, her dentist father, was sufficiently wealthy to send her to the Walden School and Barnard College. After college she worked in a drug counseling program run by the Black Panthers and the Young Lords, a Puerto Rican revolutionary gang. (Note the coincidence, not only with young Hillary’s work for the Black Panthers and similar groups, but her education at exclusive enclaves like Wellesley and Yale.) Rosenberg received further political education as a member of a youth work brigade in Cuba but did most of her serious political work stateside, where The Family launched a string of robberies and bombings in Bonnie-and-Clyde style.

“I rob banks with black people,” said Rosenberg, alias “Elizabeth” and “Barbara Grodin.”

In October of 1981, Rosenberg’s gang held up a Brink’s truck in Nanuet, New York, killing guard Peter Paige and two police officers, Edward O’Grady and Waverly Brown, the first black officer on the local force. Rosenberg drove the getaway car and managed to escape.

Via Sweetness and Light

A "Scary Legacy"

Victor Davis Hansen writes in The Corner on the "scary legacy of the 2008 Democratic primary."

One of the strangest things about the NAACP Wright pseudo-scientific speech on learning, and its enthusiastic CNN coverage and analysis, was the abject racialism of Wright. It was sort of an inverse Bell-Curve presentation, based on assumed DNA differences.

His convoluted explanation of African-American right-brain 'oral' culture as more creative, musical, and spontaneous versus European left-brain traditional analysis could never have been given by someone white to that audience without justifiably earning booing and catcalls.

Three comments: this was just the sort of racist 'genetic' difference that most Americans learned to shun, now apparently quite acceptable again, and part of the mainstream.

Second, there is no evidence that so-called Europeans could not "rap" or create an oral literature as well as Africans — remember, oral poetry as we know it , began with bards like Homer somewhere in the southeastern Aegean and continued into modern times in the Balkans.

Three, some of the most accomplished speakers of English and analytical thinkers are African-Americans, a fact everyone immediately recognizes from what they read and with whom they speak.

In short, Wright's speech on black-right brainers, white-left brainers — replete with bogus stereotypes and crude voice imitations — was about as racist as they come and at one time antithetical to what the NAACP was once all about. Again, the Obama campaign and its appendages have set back racial relations a generation. Just ten years ago, any candidate, black or white, would have rejected Wright making a speech about genetic differences in respective black and white brains. Now it's given to civil rights organizations by the possible next President's pastor and spiritual advisor — and done to wild applause for an organization founded on the idea that we are innately the same, while being gushed over by ignorant "commentators."

As I said before, between Wright's racism and hatred, and Obama's contextualization of what he has said, we have so lowered the bar that the next racist (and he won't necessarily be black) who evokes hatred of other races and then offers a mish-mash pop theory of genetic differences will have plenty of "context" to ward off public fury.

Orwellian times.

Choices

Via Dr. Sanity

Let's Make A Deal!

Via Last of the Few

Hold them Accountable for Their Votes

The next time you hear someone complain about the high price of gas, ask them who they voted for. Did that person vote to close off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and parts of the Gulf Of Mexico and Alaska? Hold people responsible for their votes, and hold the politicians responsible for theirs.

President Bush Tells It Like It Is

Did you happen to see or hear President Bush go off on a reporter yesterday? Gateway Pundit has the full transcript.

Question: Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to switch to Afghanistan. There was another attempt on President Karzai's life. There are operations going on there right now. Is the strategy succeeding? Are we winning in Afghanistan?

THE PRESIDENT: I think we're making progress in Afghanistan, but there's a very resilient enemy that obviously wants to kill people that stand in the way of their reimposition of a state that is -- which vision is incredibly dark. I mean, it's very important for the American people to remember what life was like in Afghanistan prior to the liberation of the country. We had a government in place that abused people's human rights, they didn't believe in women's rights, they didn't let little girls go to school, and they provided safe haven to al Qaeda. In the liberation of this country, we've achieved some very important strategic objectives: denying al Qaeda safe haven from which to plot and plan attacks, and replacing this repressive group with a young democracy.

And it's difficult in Afghanistan. If you know the history of the country, you understand it's hard to go from the kind of society in which they had been living to one in which people are now responsible for their own behavior. But I am pleased with a lot of things. One, I'm pleased with the number of roads that have been built. I'm pleased with the number of schools that have opened up. I'm pleased a lot of girls, young girls are going to school. I'm pleased health clinics are now being distributed around the country. I'm pleased with the Afghan army, that when they're in the fight they're good.

I wish we had completely eliminated the radicals who kill innocent people to achieve objectives, but that hasn't happened yet. And so I think it's very much in our interests to continue helping the young democracy. And we will.

Yes. Obviously you've got a follow-up.

Question: But do you think we're winning? Do you think we're winning?

THE PRESIDENT: I do, I think we're making good progress. I do, yes.

Question: Can I just add to that, a couple weeks ago --

THE PRESIDENT: No, you can't. This is the second follow-up. You usually get one follow-up, and I was nice enough to give you one. I didn't give anybody on this side a follow-up, and now you are trying to take a second follow-up.

Question: They didn't try.

THE PRESIDENT: I know you try.

Yes.

Question: Can I just say --

THE PRESIDENT: They just cut off your mic. You can't, no.

Question: A couple weeks ago you said --

THE PRESIDENT: Now she's going to go without the mic. This is awesome. (Laughter.)

Question: A couple weeks ago you said that in Iraq, in 2006, you said we were winning and the strategy was working to keep up troop morale.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Question: How can we believe that you're not doing the same thing here?
(You're lying.)

THE PRESIDENT: You tried to ask me that question before. It's a repeat. Look, I said --

Question: No, I'm talking --

THE PRESIDENT: Can I finish, please? The question you asked me before at the exclusive I gave you on the ranch was: You said that we were winning in the past. I also said that there was tough fighting. Make sure you put the comments in place.

So what I'm going to tell you now is, we're making progress in Afghanistan, but there's tough fighting. I'm under no illusions that this isn't tough. I know full well we're dealing with a determined enemy. I believe it's in our interest that we defeat that enemy. And so, yes, we're making progress. But it's also a tough battle. We're facing people who are willing to strap bombs on themselves and walk into places where the innocent dwell, or the innocent shop, and kill them.

Is it in our interest to confront these people now, whether it be in Afghanistan, or Iraq, or Europe, or anywhere else? And the answer is, absolutely, it's in our interest. And the notion that somehow we can let these people just kind of have their way or, you know, let's don't stir them up, is naive or disingenuous, and it's not in our nation's interests. We are in a global struggle against thugs and killers. And the United States of America has got to continue to take the lead.

And so in Afghanistan, yes, we're making progress. Does that mean that it's over? No, it doesn't mean it's over. We're in a long struggle, as I've told you many a time, against these jihadists. You defeat them ultimately by the advance of democracy. See, this is an ideological struggle. These aren't isolated, law-enforcement moments. We're dealing with a group of ideologues who use asymmetrical warfare -- that means killing innocent people -- to try to achieve their objectives. And one objective is to drive us out of Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East, or anywhere else where we try to confront them.

And so, yes, I mean, look -- is it tough? Yes, it's tough. Is it difficult? Absolutely. Is it worth the fight? In my judgment, yes, it is.

"He was not my spiritual mentor. He was ...my pastor!"

At the One Cosmos blog yesterday Bob wrote about "The Soul of Obama and His Spiritual Housing Crisis," expounding on a theme involving Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright. In reference to the "Reverend" Wright, Gagdad Bob sumarizes:

More generally, I detest religious people who make religion look foolish or evil. There are few greater sins. Maybe none, for it is the one sin that negates all the others.

A commenter named mushroom agreed with Bob's comparison of BJ Clinton and Jeremiah Wright.

I agree with the parallel between Wright and BJ Clinton. These men are vampires that derive their false life from the adulation of gullible. The Bible calls them “false shepherds” leading the sheep astray for their own personal aggrandizement. Neither can endure the absence of attention or the thought that they are not “relevant”.

Another commenter there named James, who has lived in the Middle East, said

There is money to be made in dividing people and setting them against each other, or creating victim groups. The problem is other more important issues don't get addressed. Then Rome falls.

Another commenter named hoarhey proved prescient when he said

Since Obama wants the Presidency so badly, and since this issue won't go away and is like a millstone around his neck dragging him down, I'm looking for a facade of detachment from Wright without truly detaching. A sort of "wink wink" parting of the ways which will be initiated by a "disappointed" Wright. Look for the Wright bombast to hit a crescendo followed a mild repudiation from Obama.

Bob made the point that

There is so much truth and beauty in the black church, e.g., gospel music

You don't believe it? Listen to a person who had one of the most beautiful voices God ever graced onto a human being.

Rev. Wright's Speech to the NAACP

I sought to find Rev. Wright's speech to the NAACP. These are the videos I found, but I realize that none of them are complete, and there is some overlap. I found him to be brilliant and funny, a real spellbinding entertainer. What do you think?

Regular, Mid-Grade, or Premium?

Via One Cosmos At Sea

An Ominous Number

Did you know that on May 10 there will be 6,666,666,666 people living on this earth?
Via Invincible Armor

McCain-Feingold: A Huge Threat To Our Liberty

George Will's column in Townhall caught my eye today, because he is writing about a community just to the north and west of where I live. Two residents wanted to annex their subdivision to the town of Parker, Colorado. Six others were opposed to annexation. Here's Will:

One proponent of annexation sued them. This tactic -- wielding campaign finance regulations to suppress opponents' speech -- is common in the America of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. The complaint did not just threaten the Parker Six for any "illegal activities." It also said that anyone who had contacted them or received a lawn sign might be subjected to "investigation, scrutinization and sanctions for campaign finance violations."

The suit is in federal court. This legacy of John McCain is serious stuff, threatening our liberty. Speaking of federal court, if I were elected president, do you know who I would appoint to the Supreme Court? George Will!

Desperate Hypocrisy

It is not surprising to me that lefties are still trying to make an issue about a supposed connection between jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Congressman Bob Schaffer. After all, Schaffer is the Republican candidate for the 2008 U.S. Senate race in Colorado.

Democrats have milked the Abramoff stories 'till the cows come home. They paint him as a beast, corrupt and vile as can be.

However, since they have so far not been able to make any of their shots at Schaffer stick, they now are trying a different tack. Jason Salzman, in his lefty On The Media column in today's Rocky Mountain News, wants reporters to try to talk directly to Abramoff. Yes, that's right, now the left is taking the desperate last ditch tactic of trying to get Abramoff to say that he had some ties with Schaffer! The vile, corrupt, jailed lobbyist is now going to be the left's last best hope to revive the story! They have painted him as completely corrupt, but now hope he will say that he did have ties to Schaffer! That's called trying to have it both ways, or having your cake and eating it too. The hypocrisy never ends.

A Message From Your Pilot

How would you react to this message from the pilot? I would be greatly put at ease.

Via The Cook Shack

"crisscrossing the nation in chariots hitched to teams of flying unicorns"

Oil. It has become a very dirty word in this year's election campaigns. All three of the presidential candidates are demonizing anybody connected with producing this evil commodity. David Harsanyi observes here

We've all heard the relentless demagoguery from every major presidential candidate regarding oil and so-called "energy independence."

Not only are presidential candidates promoting dangerous fallacies about energy but, last I checked, they weren't crisscrossing the nation in chariots hitched to teams of flying unicorns.

Nevertheless, the left continues to villainize anyone connected with the oil industry. Five national political action groups are targeting the 2008 Colorado senatorial race, favoring Democrat Mark Udall over Republican Bob Schaffer. Attack ads are already airing, portraying former congressman Bob Schaffer as "Big Oil Bob."

Geckofeeder recently reprinted this Dennis Prager piece from Townhall.com. Prager explains that for those on the political left, there is a primacy placed on

environmental concerns over moral concerns. For example, the left seemed never to care about the millions of Africans who continued to die from malaria largely because of the environmentalists' worldwide ban on the use of DDT as pesticide. The same holds true for another leftwing environmentalist fantasy. Changing corn into biofuels is causing a surge in food prices throughout the world. The European Union continues this policy despite warnings even from some environmentalists that food shortages, starvation and food riots are imminent. But human suffering is not as significant as environmental degradation.

The left has opted out of the war against Islamic terrorists. As Prager says,

Today, conservatives fight evil and liberals fight carbon emissions.

Surprise Snow

We looked out the window this morning and saw the daffodils bowing their heads to the snow gods.

The Army Sings Battle Hymn of the Republic

Via Geckofeeder

Tonight's Sunset

The first pair of twins are doing well with their mama, Crackle. The second pair are struggling, and their mama, Snap, is just sitting in a corner. Colleen is feeding Snap's babies every four hours.

House Pets? Nah.

Colleen is tube-feeding the babies every four hours.

Snap is chocked full of antibiotics, because the vet found a tumor, not a baby. She deserves a ride back down to the barn.

The babies actually appear to like walking around on carpet.

Triplets?

Our Boar goat Snap has had two babies tonight, and, as you can see by the sunken hips, is still having contractions. Guess who delivered the first baby? Yep, the woman sitting here on the ground, that woman I love. She pulled him out by his hooves. He still was not breathing, so she swung him from side to side until he yelled, baaa! I was not home, but all the rest of the family got to see the wondrous event.


Update: She does not have another baby; she has a tumor. Colleen bought a feeding tube for the babies, but we may lose Snap.